Carnival

FEATURED ARTICLES ABOUT CARNIVAL

It was an afternoon of challenging carnival games, picnicking, enjoying the company of family and friends, and indulging in treats such as hand-dipped candy apples. It was an evening of classic rock 'n' roll. That's how the students, faculty, family members and supporters of William McKinley Elementary School celebrated the passing of another school year and the beginning of summer vacation this past week. Staged as a Spring Family Night Country Fair on the school's Valencia Avenue campus, the event was a joint effort of the Parent Teachers Association, along with the PTA PALS room parents, who put together classroom opportunity baskets and assisted each grade level in creating a country fair booth.

A few years ago, I was driving down Olive Avenue past George Izay Park and spied an unusual scene -- scores of people sitting in lawn chairs, pitching tents, all queued along the sidewalk leading toward the Olive Recreation Center. Curious, I stopped and asked a bystander, "What are you guys in line for?" The somber reply: "Summer camp." Ah, summer camp. For kids, it begins the week after school ends in June. For parents, sign-up began at 7 a.m. May 4, when the choice spots in the summer camp programs at McCambridge, Verdugo and Robert Gross parks are ripe for the taking.

Joyce Rudolph, Weekend Purple Circle, Hoover High's booster club, has the ticket for combining fun with raising funds at its annual Street Scene Carnival from 5 to 10 today on the school's upper quad. There will be games, food, entertainment and drawings for prizes including $1,000 in cash, tickets to Southern California attractions and certificates from local merchants. This year, there will be a giant slide and dunk tank. A variety of food will be available at different booths along with a barbecue featuring hamburgers, hot dogs and carne asada.

One of the stand-out aspects of living in the tri-city area, is the rich diversity we can experience in our day-to-day lives. The unique flavors around us -- the food, the people, and the entertainment -- contribute to our decision to reside here. But even the more "diverse" among us keep our eyes open for that something different. And Bionic Beats, at the Veterans' Memorial Hall in Burbank, is the latest provider of that something special. Bionic Beats is a traveling poetry show that is bringing a multi-media experience to Burbank.

BASEBALL Burroughs 7, Pasadena 3 : The Indians remained in the hunt for a Pacific League title with a win Tuesday at home. Burroughs (6-6, 4-1 in league) received a complete game from pitcher Tyler Bussard, who struck out six and walked one. Nick Tonkinson was one for three with three runs batted in and Wes Cleary had a two-run home run in the seventh inning. Burroughs is tied for second place in league with Arcadia, one game behind first-place Crescenta Valley.

Get ready to rock around the clock — or at least a few blocks. Whether you’re looking for some good exercise, or to just get to know your community a little better, you’ll have that chance on April 26 along a nearly 1-mile stretch of Olive Avenue. The annual Burbank on Parade with a ’50s theme will make its way along Olive, showcasing everyone and everything from local Scout troops and classic cars to marching bands and equestrian units, all between Lomita and Lincoln streets.

The playground at William McKinley Elementary School was a conservationist’s dream on Friday, as the students celebrated Earth Day with a wide range of eco-conscious games and activities. An obstacle course was made of recycled tires, old hula hoops from physical education classes and scrap wood for a balance beam. A carnival-style bottle-toss game had students throwing empty water bottles into blue recycling bins several feet away. And decorative chains draped on the fence were made all of old homework assignments — with most of the color, PTA president Suzanne Weerts pointed out, coming from younger students’ crayon-created work.

Jackson Bell Superman, Spider-Man and Wonder Woman were all at Walt Disney Studios over the weekend. No, Warner Bros. wasn't merging with Disney. The superheroes -- in pint-sized versions of their normal selves -- were partaking in Halloween festivities and catching an early screening of Disney and Pixar's newest animated movie, "The Incredibles." "It's fun to see a movie before it comes out, before all my friends see it," said Katie Tenney, a 12-year-old Los Angeles girl dressed as Kagome, her favorite character from the TV show "Inu-Yasha."

DOWNTOWN BURBANK — Children and families will celebrate the start of fall on Thursday with the Fabulous Fall Festival in front of Macy's on Cypress Street and San Fernando Road in Downtown Burbank. The Downtown Burbank Partnership, the city, the Burbank Community YMCA and Burbank Town Center are organizing the event, YMCA Executive Director Bryan Madden said. "We are a nonprofit and we are in the downtown location and we try to partner with the city whenever we can to give back to the community," Madden said.

JOHN BURROUGHS HIGH SCHOOL John Burroughs High School Class of 1956 is planning its 50-year reunion on Oct. 21 at the Pickwick Garden Room, 1001 Riverside Drive, Burbank. For more information, call the high school at (818) 558-4777, Ext. 61930. BURBANK HIGH SCHOOL Burbank High School Class of 1961 will have its 45-year reunion over the weekend of July 28, 29 and 30. For more information, call Marian Campbell at (818) 845-5814. Burbank High School Class of 1976 will have its 30th reunion on July 22 at the Sheraton Universal.